U.S. unemployment aid applications fell 11,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 346,000, a level consistent with steady job growth. The Labor Department said Thursday that the less volatile four-week average rose 4,500 to 352,500. The average has fallen 7 per cent in the past six months.
Here are the states with the biggest changes in applications. The state data are for the week ending May 25, one week behind the national data.
States with the biggest decreases:
Michigan: Down 2,185, no reason given
North Carolina: Down 1,747, due to fewer layoffs in construction
States with the biggest increases:
California: Up 8,622, due to layoffs in the service industry
Missouri: Up 2,999, due to layoffs in hotels and restaurants, transportation and warehousing, and manufacturing
Kentucky: Up 1,750, no reason given
Pennsylvania: Up 1,333, due to layoffs in transportation equipment, entertainment and manufacturing
Kansas: Up 1,325, due to layoffs education and transportation
Florida: Up 1,198, due to layoffs in agriculture, construction, manufacturing and retail
